Photo courtesy of Bacolod City Communications Office
The city government has begun accepting entries for the third Bacolod Film Festival, set for Nov. 27 to 29 under the theme “Pag-angot: Celebrating Heritage, Shaping Our Future.”
The short film competition aims to preserve Bacolod’s cultural identity while encouraging filmmakers to produce original and innovative stories.
Mayor Greg Gasataya urged aspiring and returning filmmakers to create works that celebrate the city’s heritage and envision a more inclusive future.
Councilor Em Ang said the festival provides a platform for local writers, directors and production teams and could help their films gain exposure in other festivals in the Philippines and abroad.
Festival director Tanya Lopez said the competition would also document Bacolod’s changing landscape as new developments emerge and older landmarks gradually disappear.
Filmmakers may submit original live-action entries from Aug. 3 to 21. Each film must feature three to five recognizable heritage elements, including local communities, historical landmarks, traditions, festivals, food culture and other cultural assets.
Eight to 10 finalists will receive a Php 100,000 production grant, released in two tranches, along with script consultations, workshops and production mentoring.
Directors and at least half of their creative, production and technical teams must be registered voters and residents of Bacolod City. Most filming locations must also be within the city.